Cephas Shava
Mwenezi-Ensuring gender balance in every facet of citizen’s lives, including the political spheres, is a constitutional right which government and political parties should honour.
Section 17 (1) (a) of the national constitution precisely specify that the State must promote the full participation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality with men.
However, Mwenezi district without any female councillor among a total of 18 incumbent who were elected during the last harmonised elections is a microcosm of the rigours of politics especially in rural communities where, owing to diverse factors, most women who in vain seldom participate in elections find it difficult to vie for political offices.
For 36-year old Judith Marange who is the only female within the district who contested under then Nelson Chamisa’s led MDC Alliance for Mwenezi West’s ward 9 council post in the 2018 harmonised elections after sailing uncontested in the party primaries, she said poverty and societal misconceptions are among the key obstacles hindering women from rural communities to run for political office.
“As a woman contesting on opposition ticket in rural communities like Mwenezi is not for the faint-hearted. Given the past political violence that was witnessed here, most women are still haunted and are convinced that politics is a preserve for men who can withstand and soldier on under such conditions. Most women shun politics owing to such scenarios.
“The other issue that is derailing women from contesting is poverty. In my case in 2018 it was very difficult raising money to fund my campaigns. As a married woman and as per our societal norms, I had to make some decisions after seeking authority from my husband first. This is different from male contestants who in most cases make political decisions without consulting their spouses,” said Marange.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial youth league member Sikhulekile Moyo who in 2018 contested the party primaries for Mwenezi East legislative post but could not make it is of the view that the dominance of men in key decision making posts is among the major contributor hampering women from excelling during election times.
“The main reason why women usually fail to make it during election times is that they are not the ones who occupy key decision making posts. Those men with top posts at provincial and district level, are the ones who had the mandate to convene meetings hence they have a viable access to voters. This enables them to influence women voters whom they had easy access whenever they convene meetings.
“There is need for women to dominate key decision making bodies so that they get the maximum opportunity to meet and interact with other women electorate enlightening them on the advantages of voting for each other as women,” she said.
Moyo who also bemoans resources constraints among most potential women contestants propounds that there is need to initiate vigorous awareness campaigns at every level of the society so as to embolden women to defy all odds and contest any post of influence which for long had been a preserve for men.
In one of her interviews, on women and human rights issues on the Enlightenment series top human rights lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa argued that much of the country’s legislative framework looks fantastic on paper but in reality there is nothing for women to celebrate.
“Most of our legislative frameworks are absolutely fantastic on paper. If one looks at the constitution, women and the equality clause mentioned, it looks like Zimbabwe women are catered for. The reality on the ground is completely different and sadly a lot of us (women) are complicity in this because we are not insisting on enjoying these rights,” said Mtetwa.
As the countdown to next year’s harmonized elections gathers momentum with political parties banking much on women votes as they constitute the majority of the electorate, their commitment towards supporting women for political office posts will have its litmus test.
